Electric rat guard



March 8, 1932. w. E.ocoNNE| ELECTRIC RAT GUARD Filed April 6, 1931 Jg J0 14 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1932 'UNTED STATES WALTER E. OCONNELL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ELECTRIC RAT GUARD ,Y f

Application led April 6, 1931.` Serial No.v 528,175.

This invention relates to guards for ships mooring lines or hawsers, and has for an object the provision of electrical means for preventing rodents from passing along the hawsers from the dock to the ship when the latter is berthed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe above character which may be readily attached to and removed from a hawser and connected with the ships supply of current, so that rodents traveling along the hawser will receive sufficient current to cause their death.

With the above-and other objects in view,

the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe invention shown applied to a section of a mooring line or hawser.

Figure 2is a top plan view of the invention i per se, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the electrodes.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a ship with the invention applied to a mooring line.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention as shown comprises a cuff which is made up of a pair of semi-circular sections 10 and 11. These sections are formed of suitable insulating material and are hingedly connected as shown at 12 by substantially semi-circular metallic plates 13, 14 and 15. These hinge plates eX- tend around the sections 10 and 11 andy are provided with protecting covers 16, 17 and 18 respectively, the cover 16 entirely inclosing the hinge plates 13, while the covers 17 and 18 are provided with openings 19 and 20k respectively which expose portions of the plates or electrodes 14 and 15. The hinge plates 13 and 14 are electrically connected as shown at 19, while the plates 13 and 15 are electrically connected by screws or similar conducting members 2() which extend through insulating posts 21 into a fuse boX 22. rThe fuse boX 22'eXtends -longitudinally of the cuff and Vis connected with opposite ends of the cuff by the' posts 21. Conductor terminals 23 are secured upon the conducting members 2O within the -fuse box, and

these terminals are connected to conductor wires 24 and 25 which lead to a suitable'source of current such as the ships supply of current. The conductor '24 is connected tothe terminal 23 of the electrode-or hinge plates 13, while the conductor 25 is connected with the'terminal of the electrode or hinge plates 15. lRenewable fuses 26 arev connected within each of these conductors.

Secured to one of the sections of the cuff is a strap 27 and hingedly secured to this strap as shown at 28 is a bolt 29 upon which is mounted a thumb nut 30. This bolt is adapted to enter a notch provided in a keeper 31 which is carried by the other cuff section so that when the nut 23 is tightened to engage the keeper the culi will be securely clamped yupon f the hawser.` By this means the device may be readily attached to or removed from the hawser.

A rodent traveling along the hawser will bridge the electrodes 14 and 15 so as to complete a circuit, whereupon the current traveling through the body of the rodent will electrocute said rodent and cause him to fall from the hawser into the water.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. Ina rat guard, an insulated cuff comprising Va pair of semi-circular members, means to connect said members, electrodes carried by the cuff, a protective casing for said electrodes, and means to connect said electrodes with a source of current.

2. In a rat guard, an insulated cuil' comprising a pair of semi-circular members, means to connect said members, electrodes carried by the cui, a fuse box connected to and extending longitudinally of the cuil, electric terminals located Within the fuse boX and electrically -connected With the electrodes, conductors extending into the fuse box for connection with a source o' current, and fuses located Within the box and connected in said conductors.

3. In a rat guard, an insulated Cuff comprising a pair of semi-circular members, means connecting said members to provide a sleeve, spaced split circular electrodescarried by the sleeve, and means to connect said electrodes With a source of current.

4. In a rat guard, an insulated cuff comprising a pair of semi-circular members, means connecting said members to provide a sleeve, spaced split circular electrodes carried by the sleeve, protective casings for said electrodes, certain of said protective casings' having openingsto expose portions of the electrodes, and means to connect said electrodes with a source of current.

5. In a rat guard, an insulated cui comprising a pair of semi-circular members, sectional electrodes carried by said members and liingedly connected together toprovide a hinge connection for said members, and

means to connect the electrodes With a source of current.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER E. OGONNELL. 

